We had it all planned to a T. Having arrived in Bangkok from Luang Prabang at about 9am, we would check in for our Thai Air Asia flight due out a few hours later and perhaps have a snack, a drink or do some retail therapy before the flight. We would arrive in Singapore at about 16:40, collect the bag we had left there, go to the Crowne Plaza hotel at the airport where I was booked in for the night where we would unpack that bag and a second bag filled with our goodies acquired on our journey and re-pack both our cases. Chris could then shower and change and we would have a final drink and something to eat before he would check in for his 01:00 flight for Seoul and then onward to Seattle. Well that was the plan but you know what they say about the best-laid plans.....(or to quote more accurately, best laid schemes)? Yep! This was to “gang agley” 
About a week before we were due to take our scheduled flight departing at 13:10 we received an email telling us that it had been cancelled and we were now booked on a later flight of 16:45 due to arrive in Singapore at 20:30. 
OK, it wasn’t the end of the world but it did seriously cut into his connecting time leaving little enough margin for error if there was any serious delay on the new flight. There was a frenzied hour of searching to see if we could come up with an alternative but either the times didn’t suit or else the cost was too prohibitive. Eventually we decided that all we could do was leave it in the lap of the gods and hope for the best.Arriving in Bangkok we headed over to the Thai Air Asia check-in area where they were calling for passengers for a flight to Singapore leaving at 10:30. Oh how we longed to be on it rather than hanging around the airport but there wasn’t a hope in hell of getting on it since check-in would have closed for it some time ago.
We checked in at the kiosk but when we went to drop our bags they wouldn’t accept them till three hours before the flight. We argued politely that the we would not have been in this position if they had not cancelled our original flight but no dice and we were stuck with them for the next few hours. 
There was a left luggage room and we managed to divest ourselves of our bigger bags but there were some that we were unwilling to let out of our sight because they contained laptops, iPads and other valuables so that really ruled out a visit to the city. Landside there was little to do. There were several coffee shops and other eateries and we located into Starbucks in the hope of free wi-fi. It wasn’t there. We did a bit of people-watching which is fun for a while but when we got bored with that and couldn’t string out a cup of coffee any longer and before we could be charged rent for the length of the time we were staying there, we decided to stroll around the airport for a while. We watched the window cleaners abseiling to do their work,
When there was no more to be seen (which didn’t take long) we found a quiet corner and settled down with laptops and iPads. Unfortunately there was no free wi-fi and so it was down to reading and playing games to occupy the time. I had noticed a hospital (which probably was a treatment room) on one of the lower floors and I took myself off for a time with the intention of asking them to look at my knee which I had cut in Phnom Penh but it was closed. Good job I wasn’t having a coronary then. I also wandered outside for a time as I was beginning to feel a bit chilly in the air-conditioned building and I needed a last blast of heat before returning home. Finally, finally it was getting nearer the time when we could off-load our bags. We collected our bags from the left luggage room and although it still wasn’t three hours before the flight time, we decided to throw ourselves on the mercy of the check-in agent. She, the dear lady, was more than willing to take our bags unlike her colleague earlier. As mentioned earlier, we had acquired a third bag and fully expected to have to pay for it. She, however, the absolute sweetheart that she was, asked us to load them on to the scales saying that we didn’t if they came in at a combined weight of 40kg. It was 43kg but she gave us the option of moving something from one of the bags which we grabbed with both hands. Quick as a flash something was whipped out of one of the cases and stuffed into my carry-on. I didn’t think it weighed 3kg but she declared herself satisfied and dispatched our bags on their merry way. We also went on our merry way as we felt we were being released from durance vile!! Security and Immigration were delightfully uncluttered and we were through in the matter of minutes.
Once airside there was plenty to see. OK, it was no different than any other airport with its range of shops but at least there was variety. We strolled around examining some places and thoroughly enjoying the buzz before heading off for drinks and some spring rolls followed by another round of drinks.
While we were there a family strolled past with a six year old in tow who was showing all the signs of being the child from h*ll! He was with dad but shortly after mum with a two year old in a stroller and granny came past. We had rolled our eyes at the six year old but there was nothing to say that he was on our flight. After all there was a flight to come in to and leave our gate before our flight was scheduled. However after that plane (a China Southern one) had arrived and as the crowd was beginning to gather for our flight on the upper level, Chris, who had gone to the loo came back with the bad news they were on our flight.
The time for departure of the China Southern flight came and went and although everyone seemed to be on board, there was no sign of it moving and indeed the cargo doors were still open. More alarmingly the time for the departure of our flight arrived and it was still at our gate. Moreover, there was no sign of our plane unless it was at a remote stand waiting to be towed into place. Eventually the China Southern plane departed but where was our plane? While we were waiting, we were allowed down into the gate where our boarding passes were scanned rather than as we were being boarded, but where was our plane? Bad as that was, the horror from h*ll was there and proceeded to charge up and down the area screaming his head off with his two year old brother following in pursuit. There then followed a chasing game with both children growing more and more hyper by the minute while mum and dad looked on indulgently. Occasionally the two year old went off on forays by himself to be brought back protesting by his mum and even when gran went after him, it was obvious she had no influence over him either. We attempted several demonic glares as did other passengers but that had no effect - they were glare-proof!
The flight finally arrived some 25 minutes after our departure time. Chris, who had been in charge of booking the SE Asian flights, had told me he had booked extra goodies as it was our last flight. These included Hot Seats referred to in my SIN-PEN flight as well as food and also a goodie bag. The Hot Seats meant that we had priority boarding and so we positioned ourselves near the doors for boarding. However just before boarding was called Chris somehow managed to drop his passport between the perspex barrier and the window and the gap underneath the perspex was just too small for a hand to fit. Fortunately one of the staff spotted his dilemma and managed to get a stick to poke it towards the wall and her tiny hand swiftly retrieved it. She received our thanks graciously and went to open the doors.
The first passenger to be loaded was a wheelchair passenger and shortly after we were allowed to go through but when we got to the aircraft it was obvious that we were too soon as they were debating as to how to board him. It was obvious that Air Asia did not have an aisle wheelchair and eventually the poor man was hoisted on to another bloke’s shoulders and literally dragged down the aisle. I was so embarrassed for him, especially as his upper garment rode up and we could see he was wearing incontinence underwear. At that point the two of us turned our backs to be able to afford him a modicum of dignity and eventually we were given the signal by the cabin crew that we could board.
We were in seats 1D and F and were nicely settled just as the horrors from h*ll passed by with the two year old kicking and screaming and his older brother teasing him. By this time the two were as high as kites and screamed and screamed and screamed as they were strapped into their respective seats. I pitied the people who were sitting near them.
After take-off, which was at about 6 pm, when the crew were released to their duties Chris showed them our boarding passes which showed that he had ordered and pre-paid for hot food. However unlike our SIN-PEN flight when passengers who had pre-ordered were served first we had to wait and eventually he had to remind the cabin crew. He had ordered a chicken satay and a chicken and rice dish and in true gentlemanly fashion, nabbed the satay for himself! The chicken and rice was just fine though I would have liked a beer to wash it down. The goodies he had bought was a pack containing a blanket, neck collar and a drawstring bag for them. I donated it to Aer John who collects such memorabilia.
The rest of the flight was uneventful and because of our seats we were quickly off the plane. Changi was its usual efficient self and in no time we were through Immigration and waiting for our bags. They didn’t take too long to come through and soon we were heading for the left luggage room to collect our bag. Because the delay had really eaten into Chris’s connecting time we felt we had no option but to find a quiet corner to sort out the bags. Eventually his bags were sorted to his satisfaction and we made our way from T1 to T2 for him to check in for his Korean Air flight.
At T2 check in was not fully open but he tried to join one of the lines at the two desks that were open. However a lady holding a clutch of passports blocked his way. She was wanting to check in a group although none of them seemed to be anywhere in the vicinity. The couple at the other desk were taking an inordinate amount of time but then Chris realised that as a business class passenger he could check in at the lounge. We made our way there only to be told it did not open till 10:30 which was in 15 minutes time. We decided that a farewell drink was in order but could we find a bar? Nope! We could have been awash with coffee but anything stronger was obviously airside. By that time it was 10:30 so Chris went to check in and having done so came back out to say goodbye. We’d had a terrific two and a half weeks together and had seen places which this time last year we had no idea we would be seeing. It had been a great trip.
I then took the train from T2 to T3 to check in to the Crowne Plaza hotel. Coming off the train I had no idea of where to go but as I came from the area leading to the train there was the entrance to the hotel. It couldn’t have been nearer. I quickly checked in and once in my room opened my carry-on only to find something Chris had bought in Luang Prabang airport and had given me to put in my bag. Within 10 minutes I was back at the SATS lounge asking them to pass it on to him. They remembered him and they did and I returned to the hotel reflecting on the fact that we need not have skulked in some corner of the airport but sorted everything out in the comfort of my room. Ah well!
